Press

NORTH SYDNEY — NOVEMBER 22, 2000 — Unauthorized access to corporate information and unauthorized usage of company IS systems, applications and email are amongst some of the most frequent security breaches Australian enterprises are witnessing today. The latest IDC survey on Internet and network security adoption and investment has found that more than 35% of IT departments have experienced severe security infringements such as illegal access to corporate resources.

"As businesses open their networks to accommodate the exchange of information and resources via the Internet, they concurrently fall vulnerable to having undesired parties tamper and misuse corporate data and resources" said Natasha David, IDC's Senior Analyst, Software.

According to David, to increase profitability, companies need security solutions to expand trusted relationships with their customers, partners, suppliers, and channels.

Additionally, as enterprises grow and restructure to keep pace with the eBusiness imperative, IT managers are more and more concerned with protecting valuable corporate assets as they open up a substantial portion of their business over public network infrastructures.

These combined needs are driving growth in the Internet security software market.

"The manifestations of Web and networking technologies are changing the IT community's perceptions of security. Australian enterprises are very much aware of the liability at stake for not having the appropriate security technologies in place to fortify their corporate infrastructures. As such, IT managers are making security technologies a component of their overall strategic IT investments," said Ms. David.

"However, IT managers must not focus exclusively on protecting their systems from external attacks.

Survey findings show that 56% of all security breaches discovered were illegally performed by internal people," Ms. David warned.

Companies with no security in place or those whose security is comprised of a piecemeal approach are in immediate danger of succumbing to the threat of cyber-crime. They risk losing business to competitors who race ahead of them in the eEconomy. "As business increasingly moves from the brick-and-mortar world into the virtual world of the Web, the value of a company's brand name will be one of its most important assets. Failure to ensure a secure eBusiness environment for customers will almost certainly result in depreciation of brand – something that is extremely difficult to regain – and will directly impact the company's bottom line" Ms. David explained.

To offer guidance and direction to Australian Internet strategists, IDC announced today the launch of a market intelligence service covering the Internet Enabling Technologies in the context and reality of the Australian market space.

The Australia Internet Enabling Technologies research program provides insight and direction into the adoption and deployment of technologies that impact a company's eBusiness strategy. The program is the third in a series of eBusiness market intelligence services designed to satisfy an ever-increasing need for up-to-date information on the Internet market in Australia. Others include: Australia B2B and eMarketplaces and Australia Internet Economy (http://www.idc.com.au/ebusiness).

For more information or to purchase IDC's market intelligence services, please contact John Mlynowsky on (02) 9925-2237 or email jmlynowsky@idc.com.

Using a combination of rigorous primary research, in-depth analysis, and client interaction, IDC forecasts local and worldwide markets and trends to deliver dependable service and client advice. More than 700 analysts in 43 countries provide global research with local content. IDC's customers comprise the world's leading IT suppliers, IT organizations, eBusiness companies and the financial community. Additional information can be found

For more information on how IDC can help you, please visit the IDC's press center at http://www.idc.com.au/press